Swimming pool skimmer with vacuum and sweeping controls

ABSTRACT

A skimmer having an upper chamber with a floating weircontrolled inlet, a lower chamber for holding a leaf basket, and a lateral chamber for a main drain connection, is provided with a rotary valve diaphragm cover for the lower chamber and a plug valve for the lateral chamber. By adjusting the two valves to different combinations of positions, the skimmer can be utilized to set the circulatory system of the pool for 1) normal skimming, 2) application of suction to the main drain in the pool bottom, for jet sweeping operation, or 3) vacuuming.

United States Patent Howard [54] SWIMMING POOL SKIMMER WITH VACUUM ANDSWEEPING CONTROLS [72] Inventor: Herbert H. Howard, Woodland Hills,Calif.

[73] Assignee: Marine Swimming Pool Equipment Co., North Hollywood,Calif.

22] Filed: 1811.11, 1971 21] Appl.No.: 105,338

52 us. Cl. 210/169 51 Int. Cl ..F04h 3/20 [58] Field of Search ..2l0/l69[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,169,920 2/1965 Payne..2l0/169 3,508,661 4/ i970 Diemond et al. ..2l0/ 1 69 3,306,448 2/1967Baker ..210/1 69 x 51 Oct. 31, 1972 9/1961 Spaulding et al. .....2l0/l69X 10/1969 Halpert ..2i0/l 69 ll/l959 Konopka et al. ..219/l69 X PrimaryExaminer-Samih N. Zaharna Assistant ExaminerT. A.'Granger Attorney-LynnH. Latta 571 ABSTRACT A skimmer having an upper chamber with a floatingweir-controlled inlet, a lower chamber for holding a leaf basket, and alateral chamber for a main drain connection, is provided with a rotaryvalve diaphragm cover for the lower chamber and a plug valve for thelateral chamber. By adjusting the two valves to dif-,

ferent combinations of positions, the skimmer can be utilized to set thecirculatory system of the pool for 1) normal skimming, 2) application ofsuction to the main drain in the pool bottom, for jet sweepingoperation, or 3) vacuuming.

8 Claims, 5 Drawing Figures PATENTEnnma: I972 3.701.427

SHEEI 1 [1F 2 INVENTOR.

Hammer H Hob/APB 4 men/9% 1 l SWIMMING POOL SKIMMER WITII VACUUM ANDSWEEPING CONTROLS BACKGROUND or THE INVENTION Swimming pool skimmers ofa type-embodying an inlet throat having a floating weir and leadingintoan upper chamber from whichwater is drawn downwardly through a leafbasketsupported by its rim in a lower prevent air from being drawn intothe pump line which applies suction to the bottom of the chamber; andwith an equalizer line'leading from the pool into the bottom of thelower chamber and controlled by a restricting check valve where itdischarges into the chamber, for

regulating and limiting the negative pressure developed in the lowerchamber.

SUMMARY'OF THE INVENTION The present invention provides a skimmer of thetype outlined above, except that itdoes not have a float valve in thelower chamber of the skimmer, and in addition, it provides a lateralvalve chamber to which the main drain line (leading from the bottom ofthe pool) is connected; a plug valve which is rotatably operably toselectively cut off the main drain connection (e.g., for vacuumingoperation); and a diaphragm valve which covers the lower chamber and isrotatably operable to regulate the volume of flow from the upper to thelower chamber, and which has a closed position in which it provides forcommunication between a vacuum cleaner hose and the lower chamberbeneath it and cuts off communication between the skimming inlet and thelower chamber, so that the full suction of the pump inlet line can beapplied to the vacuum hose.

OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION The general object of this invention is toprovide a skimmer having self-contained valve means for cycling aswimming pool circulatory system from normal filtering operation tosweeping operation or to vacuuming operation and back to normalfiltering operation.

This and other objects will become apparent in the followingspecification and appended drawings, wherein:

FIG. 1 is a vertical transverse sectional view of a skimmer embodyingthe invention;

FIG. 2 is a horizontal sectional view thereof, taken on line 2-2 of FIG.1;

FIG. 3 is a plan view of the equalizer valve;

FIG. 4 is a sectional view thereof; and

FIG. 5 is a sectional perspective view of the skimmer.

Referring now to the drawing in detail, I have shown therein, as anexample of one form in which the invention may be embodied, a skimmerhaving an inletduct A leading into an upper chamberB; a lower chamber Ccontaining a leaf basket L, a connection to a main drain line D leadingto the bottom of the pool; a lateral chamber F communicating with theupper chamber B and with the drain connection; another connection (at 2the bottom of lower chamber C) to a line P leading to thepoolcirculation systempump; a diaphragm valve V covering the top. oflower chamber C, to control the" flow from the upper to the lowerchamber; a plug valve 7 VI disposed in the lateral chamber F, to controlflow from the main drain D into lower chamber C; and an equalizer valveV2. (FIGS. 3, and 4) controlling flow from equalizer line E into thelower chamber C.

Chambers B, C and F- are defined within a housing comprising upper andlower sections 10 and 11 secured together at"12. Inlet duct A isintegral with upper section 10. A removable lid 13 normally closes thetop of section 10 and cooperates therewith to define upper chamber B.Lid 13 is of transparent material, providing a see-through function forinspection of the internal condition of chamber B. Lateral extensions 14and 15 on housing sections 10 and, 11 respectively cooperate tion 1 l atthe upper end of inlet member 18.

The skimmer is installed in the deck 20 of a pool having a'sidewall 21and an inlet port 22 with which the duct A communicates. A conventionalfloating weir 23 controls the inflowthrough duct A. Equalizer line Ecommunicates with the pool through wall 21. The circulation pump (notshown) has it inlet connected to line P to apply suction to lowerchamber C. Chamber F communicates with upper chamber B through a topopening in housingextension 14, and with lower chamber C through alateral opening in lower housing section 1 1.

A separator plate 25 (FIG. 2) has a circular flange26 fitted into anenlarged rim portion 27 of lower housing section 11 and resting on anannular offset shoulder 28 joining such rim portion to the main body ofsection 1 l.

Rim 26 and shoulder 28 are continued in a horizontal plane around lowerhousing extension 15, and separator plate 25 has a lateral extension 29fitted into the rim extension and seated on its shoulder. The main bodyof separator plate 25 is in the form of an upwardly protruding circularvalve seat crown of inverted pan form having a cylindrical offsetlateral rim wall 31 and a flat top valve seat wall 32 integrally joinedto flange 26 by wall 31. In the rim wall 31 are a plurality of (e.g.,three) skimming openings in the form of circumferentially elongatedslots 33 spaced equidistantly around the wall 31.

Valve V is of inverted pan form, comprising a flat disc 35 and acylindrical rim 36. Disc 35 is seated on the top wall 32 and its rim 36is rotatably fitted around lateral wall 31. The valve is held downagainst the valve seat disc 35 by a rivet or bolt 37 located at itscenter and allowing the valve to be rotated relative to the valve seat.In the valve rim 36 are a plurality of circumferential slot openings 38corresponding to valve seat slots 33 and adapted to be registeredtherewith, either fully orpartially by selective rotation of the valve,thereby to define ports for skimming flow from upper chamber B intolower chamber C as indicated by arrows. The rim webs separating the:slots in the valve and valve seat members are somewhat longer incircumferential extent than the slots themselves, whereby the valve Vmay be rotated to a position in which the slots of one member arecompletely closed by the rim webs of the other member and vice versa,thus cutting off flow from upper chamber B to a lower chamber C. Valve Vmay be provided with diametrially opposed wings 39 for engagement by anoperators fingers to rotate the valve.

For vacuuming, the valve disc 35 is provided with an opening 41 which,in a closed position of valve V will register with a vacuum couplingfitting in the form of an integral depending open sleeve 42 on valveseat 32, whereby the end nipple of a vacuum hose (not shown) may beinserted through the opening 4Iand wedged into the sleeve 42 for avacuuming operation. The preferable'type of hose for such use is onehaving an end nipple of soft, resilient rubber or elastomer material.

Plug valve V1 comprises a cup-shaped valve body 45 loosely projectingthrough an opening 46 in separator plate extension 29 and having a pairof diametrically opposite lugs 47 integral with its lateral wall andprojecting outwardly for resting on a pair of diametrically opposedlands 48 integral with and projecting upwardly from extension 29 alongthe edge of opening 46. Lands 48 have ramp ends 49 communicating witharcuate slots 50 in extension 29. At their opposite ends, lands 48 haveupwardly projecting stop lugs 51. In a normal position of valve V1, thelugs 47 rest on lands 48 to support the valve cup 45 in an elevatedposition in which its bottom is spaced from the upper end of main drainboss 16 to provide for free flow from drain line D into lower chamber Cfor a bottom sweeping operation.

For the sweeping operation, the valve V is rotated to a closed positionin which the ports through slots 38, 33 are completely closed. In thisposition, the opening 41 will be in closed relation to the opening insleeve 42 to maintain a satisfactory vacuum in chamber C sufficiently todraw water from the bottom of the pool.

On the underside of separator plate extension 29 are diametricallyopposed downwardly projecting lands 55 having ramp ends and stops 49 and51 corresponding to those of lands 48. By rotating valve cup 45 untillugs 47 drop through slots 50, and then continuing the rotation untillugs 47 are engaged beneath lower lands 55, the cup 45 will be locked ina closed position in which its bottom is rested against the upper end ofmain drain boss 16, thus effectively closing off the main drainconnection for a vacuuming operation in which the suction in lowerchamber C is concentrated and applied to the vacuum hose coupled tosleeve 42.

For normal filtering operation, the valve V is adjusted to an openposition in which an adequate flow through skimming inlet duct A maypass through ports 33, 38 into lower chamber C and thence be drawnthrough suction line P into the circulation pump. In travelling throughchamber C the flow passes through leaf basket L which retains the leavesand other floating debris.

' The equalizer valve V2 comprises a valve poppet 60 .mounted by acompression spring 61 to a bracket arm 62, normally seated over themouth of equalizer fitting l8 and adapted to be unseated wheninsufficient water enters duct A to maintain a primed condition, such aswhen the water level in the pool is below inlet duct A. For vacuumingand sweeping operations, the valve can be locked in'closed position bymeans of a lockout arm 63 mounted for swinging movement on a post (e.g.,screw) 64 which also mounts the bracket arm 62 on top of arm 63. Lockoutis effected by swinging the arm 63 1 to a position beneath arm 62, inwhich arm 63 will engage above the hub boss of poppet 60 to hold it downagainst the equalizer inlet 18.

I claim:

1. A swimming pool skimmer comprising, in combination:

a housing having a skimming inlet, an upper chamber communicating withsaid inlet;

a lower chamber having an outlet for application of pump suction, andpartition means separating said chambers, said partition means includinga circular valve seat having an eccentrically disposed skimming flowopening; a valve disc rotatable on said seat on a vertical axis, saiddisc having an eccentrically located skimmer opening adapted toregisterwith said seat opening in a selected open position of rotation of saiddisc, thereby to provide a skimming flow port; I

a vacuum hose'coupler fitting on said seat and having a mouth openingthrough said seat;

and a vacuum hose opening in said valve disc adapted to register withsaid mouth to receive the end of a vacuum hose, the circumferentiallypositional relation of said vacuum hose opening to said skimmer openingof said valve disc being so related to the circumferentially positionalrelation of said vacuum hose mouth to said skimming flow opening of saidvalve seat that said mouth will register with said vacuum hose openingin a position of said valve in which said skimming flow port is at leastlargely closed; whereby suction developed in said lower chamber isapplied to the vacuum hose coupled to said fitting.

2. A skimmer as defined in claim 1, wherein said valve and seat are ofinverted pan form, each having a substantially cylindrical rim providedwith a skimming flow opening in the form of a circumferential slot.

3. A skimmer as defined in claim 1, including means in said housingdefining a lateral chamber communicating laterally with said lowerchamber;

a main drain connection below said lateral chamber on a vertical axishaving an upper end defining a valve seat in said lateral chamber andcommunicating therewith through the bottom thereof;

a plug valve disposed in said lateral chamber and having an end adaptedto engage said seat to shut off communication between said main drainconnection and said lower chamber;

and means to hold said plug valve against said seat.

4. A skimmer as defined in claim 1, including an equalizer inlet in thebottom of said lower chamber;

and an equalizer valve comprising a poppet normally covering saidequalizer inlet, said poppet having a hub boss;

a bracket arm overhanging said poppet;

a compression spring engaged between said arm and said poppet boss;

and a lockout arm mounted for swinging movement to a position where itsend is engaged over said boss to hold said poppet seated over saidinlet.

. 6 5. A swimming pool skimmer comprising, in comnection and said lowerchamber; bination: and means to hold said plug valve against said seat;

a housing having a skimming inlet, an upper chamber said main drainconnection communicating with said communi ating with Saidv ifllei; alower Chamber, lateral chamber through the bottom thereof on a andpartition means separating said chambers, said 5 vertical axis andhaving its said seat at its upper partition means including a circularvalve seat havd, ithi id lat ral h b ing a skimming flow (Wetting; saidplug valve having means for supporting it in an a valve disc rotatableon said seat, said disc having an elevated position in which saidlateral chamber Opening adapted to register with said seat Openingcommunicates with said lower chamber.

in a selected open position; or rotation of said disc, 10 thereby toprovide a skimming flow port;

a vacuum hose coupler fitting on said seat and having a mouth openingthrough said seat;

a vacuum hose opening in said valve disc adapted to register with saidmouth to receive the end of a vacuum hose in a position of said valve inwhich said skimming flow port is at least largely closed; wherebysuction developed in said lower chamber is applied to the vacuum hosecoupled to said fitting;

means in said housing defining a lateral chamber communicating laterallywith said lower chamber;

6. A skimmer as defined in claim 5, wherein said partition means extendsacross said lateral chamber and has an opening to receive said plugvalve;

said plug valve supporting means comprising radial lugs on the sides ofsaid plug valve, engageable above said partition means;

said opening in the partition means having radial extensions throughwhich said lugs may be passed to seat said plug valve on its said seat.

- 7. A skimmer as defined in claim 6, wherein said means to hold saidplug valve against its seat is an integral part of the under side ofsaid partition means ada main drain-connection having an end defining ajacem thePeriphery ofsaid l valve opening therein valve seat in saidlateral chamber and commu- A as definlad clam mefms to nicatingtherewith; hold said plug valve against its seat being a circuma plugvalve disposed in Said lateral chamber and ferentlal land having a rampat its end adjacent said having an end adapted to engage said seat toshut opemng extension I off communication between said main drain con-

1. A swimming pool skimmer comprising, in combination: a housing havinga skimming inlet, an upper chamber communicating with said inlet; alower chamber having an outlet for application of pump suction, andpartition means separating said chambers, said partition means includinga circular valve seat having an eccentrically disposed skimming flowopening; a valve disc rotatable on said seat on a vertical axis, saiddisc having an eccentrically located skimmer opening aDapted to registerwith said seat opening in a selected open position of rotation of saiddisc, thereby to provide a skimming flow port; a vacuum hose couplerfitting on said seat and having a mouth opening through said seat; and avacuum hose opening in said valve disc adapted to register with saidmouth to receive the end of a vacuum hose, the circumferentiallypositional relation of said vacuum hose opening to said skimmer openingof said valve disc being so related to the circumferentially positionalrelation of said vacuum hose mouth to said skimming flow opening of saidvalve seat that said mouth will register with said vacuum hose openingin a position of said valve in which said skimming flow port is at leastlargely closed; whereby suction developed in said lower chamber isapplied to the vacuum hose coupled to said fitting.
 2. A skimmer asdefined in claim 1, wherein said valve and seat are of inverted panform, each having a substantially cylindrical rim provided with askimming flow opening in the form of a circumferential slot.
 3. Askimmer as defined in claim 1, including means in said housing defininga lateral chamber communicating laterally with said lower chamber; amain drain connection below said lateral chamber on a vertical axishaving an upper end defining a valve seat in said lateral chamber andcommunicating therewith through the bottom thereof; a plug valvedisposed in said lateral chamber and having an end adapted to engagesaid seat to shut off communication between said main drain connectionand said lower chamber; and means to hold said plug valve against saidseat.
 4. A skimmer as defined in claim 1, including an equalizer inletin the bottom of said lower chamber; and an equalizer valve comprising apoppet normally covering said equalizer inlet, said poppet having a hubboss; a bracket arm overhanging said poppet; a compression springengaged between said arm and said poppet boss; and a lockout arm mountedfor swinging movement to a position where its end is engaged over saidboss to hold said poppet seated over said inlet.
 5. A swimming poolskimmer comprising, in combination: a housing having a skimming inlet,an upper chamber communicating with said inlet; a lower chamber, andpartition means separating said chambers, said partition means includinga circular valve seat having a skimming flow opening; a valve discrotatable on said seat, said disc having an opening adapted to registerwith said seat opening in a selected open position; or rotation of saiddisc, thereby to provide a skimming flow port; a vacuum hose couplerfitting on said seat and having a mouth opening through said seat; avacuum hose opening in said valve disc adapted to register with saidmouth to receive the end of a vacuum hose in a position of said valve inwhich said skimming flow port is at least largely closed; wherebysuction developed in said lower chamber is applied to the vacuum hosecoupled to said fitting; means in said housing defining a lateralchamber communicating laterally with said lower chamber; a main drainconnection having an end defining a valve seat in said lateral chamberand communicating therewith; a plug valve disposed in said lateralchamber and having an end adapted to engage said seat to shut offcommunication between said main drain connection and said lower chamber;and means to hold said plug valve against said seat; said main drainconnection communicating with said lateral chamber through the bottomthereof on a vertical axis and having its said seat at its upper end,within said lateral chamber; said plug valve having means for supportingit in an elevated position in which said lateral chamber communicateswith said lower chamber.
 6. A skimmer as defined in claim 5, whereinsaid partition means extends across said lateral chamber and has anopening to receive said plug valve; said plug valve supporting meanscomprisiNg radial lugs on the sides of said plug valve, engageable abovesaid partition means; said opening in the partition means having radialextensions through which said lugs may be passed to seat said plug valveon its said seat.
 7. A skimmer as defined in claim 6, wherein said meansto hold said plug valve against its seat is an integral part of theunder side of said partition means adjacent the periphery of said plugvalve opening therein.
 8. A skimmer as defined in claim 7, said means tohold said plug valve against its seat being a circumferential landhaving a ramp at its end adjacent said opening extension.